West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins uses homophobic slurs referring to Xavier basketball fans as “those Catholic motherfuckers” on Cincinnati radio show
- Huggins was a former head coach at Xavier’s rivals the University of Cincinnati
- He released a statement apologizing for his words saying he was ’embarrassed’
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West Virginia University men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins used a homophobic insult several times Monday afternoon on a Cincinnati radio show, referring to fans of Xavier University.
Before becoming the second winningest coach in West Virginia basketball history, Huggins was head coach at the University of Cincinnati from 1989-2005. The 69-year-old was inducted into the Hall of Fame last September.
Cincinnati and Xavier are both rivals in the same city and participate in the ‘Crosstown Shootout’ every year.
Speaking on Bill Cunningham’s radio show on WLWHuggins was referring to a time when Xavier fans'[threw] rubber penises on the floor and then [said] they didn’t do it, by god, they can get away with anything’.
After the radio host joked that it must have been “transgender night,” Huggins then said, “It was a Crosstown Shootout, yeah, no, what it was was all those motherfuckers, those Catholic motherfuckers I guess” before joking that they had those items threw because “they were jealous they didn’t have one.”
West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins used homophobic slurs live on a radio show
Former Cincinnati head coach called fans of rivals Xavier University ‘Catholic bastards’
Huggins issued an apology via the West Virginia men’s basketball Twitter account
The radio hosts laughed at Huggins’ statement, adding, “Isn’t he the best?”
Huggins later apologized via the WVU men’s basketball Twitter account, saying, “Earlier today on a Cincinnati radio show, I was asked about the rivalry between my former employer, the University of Cincinnati, and its crosstown rival, Xavier University.”
“During the conversation I used a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there’s just no excuse for — and I’m not going to try to make one here.
“I sincerely apologize to those I have offended, as well as the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati, and West Virginia University.
“As I have shared coaching with my players for over 40 years, there are consequences for our words and actions, and I will fully accept anything that comes my way.
“I am ashamed and ashamed and heartbroken for those I have hurt. I have to do better, and I will.’
Huggins has the most wins in Cincinnati men’s basketball history with 399 over a 16-year tenure. He then coached for a season at Kansas State before taking the job at his alma mater West Virginia in 2008.